Isometric exercise equipment with portable feedback device

ABSTRACT

An isometric exercising apparatus that allows users to exert their strongest range of bodily motion in order to reach their full potential when performing isometric exercises in combination with a method to determine the optimum timetable to perform isometric exercise.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to exercising apparatuses, andin particular to isometric exercising apparatuses used in conjunctionwith feedback devices in order to manage the timing of users' exercisingor physical therapy regimens in order to maximize results.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In the area of exercise, there are various methods and apparatuses knownin the art with the purpose of building muscle. In particular, isometricexercises are those in which a force is applied, by a muscle group of anindividual exerciser, to a resistant object for a brief period of timein order to strengthen and build muscle mass. The resistant object maybe a bar mounted to stationary supports as disclosed, for example, inU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,424,005 and 5,776,037.

The isometric exercise apparatuses known in the art cannot resist themuscular force applied by users during their body's strongest range ofmotion, as required for static contraction training, without the needfor added weights or supports. Isometrics is from the Latin Iso—Same,Metric—distance, meaning the same distance between motion. In 1999 a newform of training called Static Contraction Training (and published in abook by the same name) produced a particularly effective refinement tothe then state of the art of isometric training. Static contractiontraining is a method of periodic isometric training known in the artthat uses zero range of motion of the body with the heaviest weights.

In the invention, disclosed herein, the need for added weights presentsmany safety issues such as injury occurring when placing weight on theapparatus, and apparatus failure when the user applies greater forcethen normal apparatus resistance. Furthermore, the need to add weightsor supports creates transportation difficulty and increases preparationtime before exercising.

Other means of resistance employed by exercising apparatuses, such ashydraulic circuits as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,965, have lowerdurability and higher production cost causing the total cost of theexercising apparatus to increase.

Exercising apparatuses have also been developed to include feedbackdevices to evaluate the characteristics of exercises performed by usersas disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,039. However, theseexercising apparatuses do not assist a user in determining the optimalperiod to perform isometric exercises. Furthermore, the feedback devicesknown in the art are not portable and cannot be used with othercompatible isometric exercise apparatuses.

For these reasons, in order to reach full potential when utilizingisometric exercises, an apparatus is needed that is capable of resistinga force exerted during the user's strongest range of bodily motion, asknown in the art, without added weights or supports, and a method ofmonitoring is also needed in order to determine when to performisometric exercise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the first object of the present invention to provide an apparatusthat can resist the user's muscular force applied during the strongestrange of motion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method todetermine the optimal period to perform isometric exercises.

The isometric exerciser of the present invention includes a rigid bar,which is securable on both ends to a chain or other positioning means bya pin or other securing contrivance, thus allowing a user to positionthe bar at a desired height and position. The positioning means isfurther attached on opposite ends to a frame allowing the user to applyforce to the bar without disturbing the position.

The apparatus is coupled with a portable feedback device that may beused with multiple apparatuses, which measures and displays strain, orother characteristic, indicating the magnitude of force during use.Subsequent to an exercise, the portable feedback device displays andstores the maximum magnitude of force achieved for user comparison orcalculation. A code, insertable card, or other means for identificationmay be included in the portable feedback device in order to retrievepast information recorded by the device for a specific user to furtherautomate the scheduling of workouts.

The present invention provides a method for exercising in order to buildmuscle mass or rehabilitate injuries to tendons and ligaments. Themethod comprises the steps of exerting a muscular force on the apparatusfor a brief period of time, increasing the level of force slowly only tothe point of the onset of the slightest subjective feeling of pain. Thisforce is applied in a very slowly increased manner and is stopped, andthe muscle relaxed at the slightest onset of pain. This has the dualbenefit of giving the user a safe feedback into the pain point of theinjury, and of stimulating increased recovery in a safe manner. Themeasuring and recording said force, abstaining from exercise for apredetermined period derived from the recorded force, and addingadditional time to the exercising abstention period when successiveforces decrease or go unchanged. The following results illustrateemployment of the method in rehabilitative manner for a user with arecent hip replacement. The user, who started with the ability togenerate 850 lbs of force in the uninjured limb, obtained the followingresults:

Workout 1: 18 lbs of force prior to the onset of pain

2 weeks of abstention

Workout 2: 157 lbs of force prior to the onset of pain

2 weeks of abstention

Workout 3: 348 lbs of force prior to the onset of pain

2 weeks of abstention

Workout 4: 585 lbs of force prior to the onset of pain

2 weeks of abstention

Workout 5: 720 lbs of force prior to the onset of pain

2 weeks of abstention

Workout 6: 900 lbs of force and no pain feeling.

At this point the joint was fully healed and the user was able to run 5miles. This recovery was fully 6 times as fast as a good recovery for asimilar injury, demonstrating the utility of the application. The factthat a utility of that nature it is not now commonplace furtherillustrates the need for this method of exercise and rehabilitation.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription, claims, and accompanying drawings. Therefore, the form ofthe invention, as set out above, should be considered illustrative andnot as limiting the scope of the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the apparatus and portablefeedback device.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a second embodiment of the-apparatus andportable feedback device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention represents an apparatus that can withstand a highlevel resistance in combination with a portable feedback device. Oneembodiment is displayed in FIG. 1. A support structure includes a frame1 that is a configuration of supports made of metal of high stresscapacity that is well known in the art of metal composition. Two frontvertical supports of the frame 1 extend upward from a base 2. Two bottomsupports of the frame 1 extend rearward horizontally from the base andintersect at their rear ends. A vertical back support of the frame 1extends upward from the intersection of the two bottom supports. Two topsupports of the frame 1 extend horizontally forward from the backvertical support and intersect with the two front vertical supports.

A user engageable member 3 shown in FIG. 1 is composed of metal of highstress capacity that is well known in the art of metal composition. Eachend of the user engageable member 3 is attached to a chain 5 as a meansfor securing the user engageable member 3 to the frame 1 in the desiredposition of the user. The user engageable member 3 is secured to thechain 5 by a pin-fastener 4 that has one end that extends through boththe user engageable member 3 and a link in the chain 5 and a second endthat extends on the outside of a link in the chain 5 and user engageablemember 3, therefore compressing the user engageable member 3 against thelink of the chain 5. The chain 5 is further attached to a pulley system6 in order to distribute the force applied to the user engageable member3 to the frame 1 as a part of the support structure of the apparatus,and in order for a transportable feedback device 7 to be connected tothe apparatus and detect the force applied by the user to the userengageable member 3.

The portable feedback device 7 is an electromechanical gauge thatdetects, displays and stores the maximum strain applied to the sensorthat is connected to the portable feedback device 7 via a cable 8 thatis attached to the pulley system 6. Electromechanical gauges thatdetect, display and store strain are well known in the art.

A second embodiment is displayed in FIG. 2. A support structure is madeof metal of high stress capacity that is well known in the art of metalcomposition. A support structure has a bench 9 that has legs that reston the ground. Adjacent to the bench 9 there are two vertical supports10 on each side of the bench 9 that extend upward.

A user engageable member 11 shown in FIG. 2 is composed of metal of highstress capacity as well known in the art of metal composition. The userengageable member 11 has two perpendicular supports 12 extendingperpendicularly from the user engageable member 11 into the supports 10which are hollow on their top ends. The top ends of supports 10 receivethe perpendicular supports 12 of the user engageable member 11 as ameans for positioning the user engageable member 11. There are holes inthe hollow portion of the supports 10 and the perpendicular supports 12of the user engageable member 11 in order for a pin 13 to pass throughboth the supports 10 and the perpendicular supports 12 as a means forsecuring the user engageable member 11 in the user's desired position.

The portable feedback device 7 is also compatible with the currentembodiment displayed in FIG. 2. The cable 8 is attached to a pulleystructure 14 that is further attached to the user engageable member 11.In order for the portable feedback device 7 to detect, display and storestrain the user exerts on the user engageable member 11, the user'sforce is transferred through the pulley system 14 wherein the force isdetected by the portable feedback device 7 through the cable 8.

In addition, a method for exercising, in order to build muscle mass orrehabilitate injuries to tendons and ligaments, comprising the steps ofexerting a muscular force on the user engageable member 3 is disclosed.The muscular force generates an isometric force starting musclehypertrophy in order to build muscle mass. Muscle hypertrophy is theenlargement or overgrowth of muscle due to an increase in size of itsconstituent cells. In one embodiment, the user exerts a force using thestrongest range of bodily motion at the greatest exertion level for tenseconds, or until muscles completely fatigue, whichever occurs first.Alternatively, the user slowly increases the exertion of force on theresistant apparatus until the user experiences the first onset of pain.The slow increase of exertion assists in rehabilitating tendon andligament injuries through muscle hypertrophy, and indicates theavailable range of motion of the injury. The force may be applied by anydesired muscle group of the user's body, and in any position known inthe art to utilize said desired muscle group.

The user measures the value of the maximum force achieved during theexertion through the portable feedback device 7.

The user retains the value of the maximum force achieved during theexertion through a retaining means. The retaining means may be a meansfor memory in the portable feedback device 7, or alteratively, manuallyrecording the value of maximum force.

The user abstains from exercising the muscle group exerted in order toallow for muscle hypertrophy. The exercising abstention period isapproximately five to seven days.

The user performs another exertion of the same muscle group in the samemanner of the previous exertion.

The user measures the value of the maximum force achieved during thesecond exertion through the portable feedback device 7.

The user retains the value of the maximum force achieved during thesecond exertion through a retaining means. The retaining means may be ameans for memory in the portable feedback device, or alternatively,manually recording the value of maximum force.

The user increases the abstention period between exertions when thevalue of the current measured maximum force is lower or unchanged thenthe value of the maximum force of an immediately prior exertion.

The user abstains from exercising the muscle group exerted in order toallow for muscle hypertrophy. The exercising abstention period isapproximately five to seven days.

As a user repeats the method over time, the user accumulates musclegrowth, or injury rehabilitation, and the period of abstention for themuscle group exercised increases.

A typical example use from a recent hip replacement in a 31 year oldmale subject who started with the ability to generate 850 lbs of forcein the uninjured limb, and began, the exercise upon learning of thetechnique having made hardly any gains in 4 months of previousconventional physical therapy.

Workout 1: 18 lbs of force prior to the onset of pain

2 weeks of abstention

Workout 2: 157 lbs of force prior to the onset of pain

2 weeks of abstention

Workout 3: 348 lbs of force prior to the onset of pain

2 weeks of abstention

Workout 4: 585 lbs of force prior to the onset of pain

2 weeks of abstention

Workout 5: 720 lbs of force prior to the onset of pain

2 weeks of abstention

Workout 6: 900 lbs of force and no pain feeling.

At this point the joint was fully healed and the user was able to run 5miles. This recovery was fully 6 times as fast as a good recovery for asimilar injury, demonstrating the utility of the application. His doctor(unaware of the rehab approach he was using) was so impressed as to havebeen showing his X-Rays at universities as an unexplainable anomaly ofrehab success. The fact that a utility of that nature it is not nowcommonplace further illustrates the non-obviousness of the procedure.

Another typical example of a user using the machine to increase his legstrength (for hypertrophy instead of recovery) had the followingresults.

Workout 1 : pressed 1100 lbs

Abstained for 2 weeks

Workout 2: pressed 1454 lbs

Abstained for 2 weeks

Workout 3: pressed 1785 lbs

Abstained for 2 weeks

Workout 4: pressed only 1545 lbs Since this was less than the previous1785 lbs the user now abstained for 3 weeks instead of 2.

Abstain for 3 weeks

Workout 5: pressed 1932 lbs

Abstained for 3 weeks (Note: once the time between workouts has risen,it stays at the higher level)

Workout 6: pressed 2300 lbs

Shortly after workout 6 the user, a 33 year old male, performed a slamdunk for the first time in his life.

The modification of this methodology for rehabilitation has never beendisclosed, or published prior to this application. But the utility ofthe efficacy of the method of are such a character (cutting arehabilitation time from 12 months to 2 months) as to strongly indicateits novelty.

1. An isometric exercising apparatus comprising: a support structure; auser engageable member; securing means for coupling said user engageableto said support structure; measuring means for measuring and displayingthe force exerted by user on said user engageable member.
 2. Theisometric exercising apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said supportstructure includes supports designed to resist strongest range of motionof muscular force applied by a human body during use.
 3. The isometricexercising apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said support structure includesa base member designed to support a user.
 4. The isometric exercisingapparatus of claim 1 wherein: said user engageable member includes afirst end, an intermediate section, and a second end, wherein said firstend and said second end are removably supported by said supportstructure.
 5. The isometric exercising apparatus of claim 1 wherein:said user engageable member includes a first end, an intermediatesection, and a second end, wherein said first end and said second endare rigidly supported by said support structure.
 6. The isometricexercising apparatus of claim 1 wherein: securing means for couplingsaid user engageable member to said support structure in a manner topermit said first end and said second end of the user engageable memberto be secured to said support structure in user's desired position. 7.The isometric exercising apparatus of claim 1 wherein: securing meansfor coupling said user engageable member to said support structure in amanner to permit said first end and said second end of the userengageable member to be detachably secured to said support structure inuser's desired position.
 8. The isometric exercising apparatus of claim1 wherein: said measuring means is in communication with a means fordisplaying the maximum force exerted by user.
 9. The isometricexercising apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said measuring means includes ameans for storing data.
 10. The isometric exercising apparatus of claim1 wherein: said measuring means includes a means for storing saidmaximum force exerted by user.
 11. The isometric exercising apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein: said measuring means includes a means for identifying aplurality of users.
 12. The isometric exercising apparatus of claim 1wherein: said measuring means includes a means to retrieve said storedmaximum force exerted by user.
 13. An isometric exercising apparatuscomprising: a support structure, having a bench resting on the floor andadjacent supports extending vertically; a user engageable member;securing means for coupling said user engageable to said supportstructure; measuring means for measuring and displaying the forceexerted by user on said user engageable member.
 14. The isometricexercising apparatus of claim 13 wherein: said support structureincludes a bench resting on the floor and adjacent supports extendingvertically designed to resist the strongest range of motion of muscularforce applied by a human body during use.
 15. The isometric exercisingapparatus of claim 13 wherein: said user engageable member includes afirst end, an intermediate section, and second end, wherein said firstend and said second end are perpendicularly supported by said verticalsupports of said support structure.
 16. The isometric exercisingapparatus of claim 13 wherein: said user engageable member includes afirst end, an intermediate section, and second end, wherein said firstend and said second end are removably supported by said verticalsupports of said support structure.
 17. The isometric exercisingapparatus of claim 13 wherein: said user engageable member includes afirst end, an intermediate section, and second end, wherein said firstend and said second end are rigidly supported by said vertical supportsof said support structure.
 18. The isometric exercising apparatus ofclaim 13 wherein: securing means for coupling said user engageablemember to said support structure in a manner to permit said first endand said second end of the user engageable member to be secured to saidsupport structure in user's desired position.
 19. The isometricexercising apparatus of claim 13 wherein securing means for couplingsaid user engageable member to said support structure in a manner topermit said first end and said second end of the user engageable memberto be detachably secured to said support structure in user s desiredposition.
 20. The isometric exercising apparatus of claim 13 wherein:said measuring means is in communication with a means for displaying themaximum force exerted by user.
 21. The isometric exercising apparatus ofclaim 13 wherein: said measuring means includes a means for storingdata.
 22. The isometric exercising apparatus of claim 13 wherein: saidmeasuring means includes a means for storing said maximum force exertedby user.
 23. The isometric exercising apparatus of claim 13 wherein:said measuring means includes a means for identifying a plurality ofusers.
 24. The isometric exercising apparatus of claim 13 wherein: saidmeasuring means includes a means to retrieve said stored maximum forceexerted by user.
 25. A method for exercising, comprising the steps of:exerting a first force by a muscle group against a user engageablemember; measuring a maximum value of said first force; recording saidmaximum value of said first force; abstaining from exercising saidmuscle group for a predetermined period of time as prescribed by themagnitude of said recorded force; exerting a second force by said musclegroup against the user engageable member; measuring a maximum value ofsaid second force through the measuring means; retaining the maximumvalue of said second force; extending the exercising abstention periodwhen the maximum value of the second force is a lower value then themaximum value of the first force; exercising abstention period for themuscle group.
 26. The method according to claim 25 wherein: the firstforce is at the greatest exertion level of the muscle group.
 27. Themethod according to claim 25 wherein: the first force is exerted in theposition of the strongest range of motion of said the muscle group. 28.The method according to claim 25 wherein: the first force is exerted fora period of 10 seconds.
 29. The method according to claim 25 wherein:the first force is exerted until complete muscle fatigue.
 30. The methodaccording to claim 25 wherein: the first force is slowly increased untilthe first onset of pain.
 31. The method according to claim 25 wherein:the second force is at the greatest exertion level of the muscle group.32. The method according to claim 25 wherein: the second force isexerted in the position of the strongest range of motion of said muscleor muscle group.
 33. The method according to claim 25 wherein: thesecond force is exerted for a period of 10 seconds.
 34. The methodaccording to claim 25 wherein: the second force is exerted untilcomplete muscle fatigue.
 35. The method according to claim 25 wherein:the second force is slowly increased until the first onset of pain. 36.The method according to claim 25 wherein: the maximum value is retainedby the means for storing said maximum force exerted by user.
 37. Themethod according to claim 25 wherein: the exercising abstention periodis extended by three days.
 38. The method according to claim 25 wherein:the exercising abstention period is extended by four days.
 39. Themethod according to claim 25 wherein: the exercising abstention periodis extended by five days.
 40. The method according to claim 25 wherein:the exercising abstention period is extended by six days.
 41. The methodaccording to claim 25 wherein: the exercising abstention period isextended by seven days.
 42. The method according to claim 25 wherein:the exercising abstention period is extended by eight days.
 43. Themethod according to claim 25 wherein: the exercising abstention periodis extended by nine days.
 44. The method according to claim 25 wherein:the exercising abstention period is extended by ten days.